Stinkin' Inkers Summer Heat

My first thought that came to me when I found out we were using Summer Heat at Stinkin' Inkers was water! Now that I live in Colorado, and I'm older, I don't get to hang out in the water like I used to as a youngster.  I was fortunate to have a pool in my backyard and spent many a days imagining a scene at the bottom of my pool just like this:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base

Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit, May 2017
Oxide Inks
Watercolor Paper
Hero Arts Intense Black Ink
Distress Markers in Tattered Rose and Pumice Stone
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Labels, #660060
Distress Sprayer
Craft Mat
Studio G Self Adhesive Assorted Pearls
Studio Katia Clear Round Drops Mix, #SK2410

I started out making the ocean background using just two of the Oxide inks, Broken China and Faded Jeans.  I applied the colors directly to the watercolor paper, trying (but

While Coloring

not too hard) to keep the lighter blue closer to the top of the paper.  I spritzed the colors with the Distress Sprayer, added some Cracked Pistachio, sprayed, and then let it dry overnight.  I reworked the background until I liked it, which is one of my very favorite things to do with Oxide Inks. 

I then took a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 white card and inked every color I had in about 2 inch increments (sorry, I forgot to take pictures before I cut them all up), basically each color had it's own area.  I inked the solidly, no spots of white let at all.   Then I sprayed them once and dried them with the heat gun.  Once they were fully dry (very important! You will rip your paper if it isn't absolutely dry! Well, at least I have) I proceeded to cut out the various undersea fauna supplied in the kit. The colors were so pretty it was a struggle to decide what to use!  

When I had cut all the fauna, I die cut the sentiment out of the Tim/Holtz Labels set, edged it with Broken China and set it aside.  I used the Hero Arts kit to die

cut the clam and a few fishes.  I colored the clam with Tattered Rose,  Pumice Stone Distress Markers and stuck the pearl onto the center.  I colored the fishes with Spiced Marmalade & Cracked Pistachio Distress Inks by mushing a bit of ink onto my craft mat and using a water brush. 

Once I had the placement down, I attached the watercolor paper to a while card base, fiddled and fooled with the various fauna and finally figured it out, decided where I wanted the sentiment, clam and the fishes to reside.  I left the tops of some of the fauna unglued so I could tuck sea creatures behind if I chose to. The bubbles from the fish are just amazingly cute! I am very proud of this card and I hope you adore it as much as I do!

Another Look - Click to enlarge :)

Please find some time during the festivities (you have ALL month!) to join us at Stinkin' Inkers with your version of Summer Heat! ~ Christi
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Just a gentle reminder!! Please be safe and keep an eye on your four legged critters - keep them inside during the fireworks; the Fourth of July is when most animals run away from home and go missing due to the noise. Keep your furbabies safe and inside (also, some animals need to be tranquilized due to the noise. If your dog is fearful of thunderstorms, he's going to be scared of the fireworks; be sure to ask your vet for medication early!)  Just a little reminder because I know you love your animals as much as I love mine (and cats can run away just like dogs!) 

I am entering my Summer Heat card in the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps Challenge - #151, Summer/Beach/Holidays
Do-Al(l) Creatives - M, #7, Cool Water
DL Art - Thankful Thursday, #207, Summer Fun
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
a2z scrapbooking - M, Anything Goes
The Papergirls - M, #131, Seashells, Sea or Beachy
Paperminutes - #494, Sea, Beach, Etc.